James Borkowski, Esq. has more than 35 years of experience as a trial attorney and Neutral with a distinguished background handling complex, high-exposure civil litigation. Over the course of his career, he has tried more than 100 jury trials and has developed a reputation for effectively resolving catastrophic injury matters arising from construction accidents, premises liability, and motor vehicle incidents, including cases involving wrongful death, traumatic brain injuries, and severe permanent disabilities. Mr. Borkowski has particular expertise mediating New York State Labor Law 240 construction accident claims with complex insurance coverage issues, such as priority of coverage, horizontal exhaustion, vertical exhaustion, and contribution/indemnification.

In addition to his extensive personal injury practice, Mr. Borkowski has significant experience in commercial litigation, including high-value breach of contract disputes. He has successfully litigated and tried complex commercial matters, including securing a $12 million jury verdict in a breach of contract case against a municipality. His broad litigation background also includes insurance and other civil disputes, giving him a comprehensive understanding of risk assessment, damages evaluation, and litigation strategy.

Mr. Borkowski has the remarkable skill to get to the heart of the matter. He takes a direct, efficient approach to mediation, avoiding the typical mediation “ping-pong,” which frequently begins with high demands versus lowball offers, followed by protracted, small incremental bidding. By establishing trust early, he meets privately with each party to understand their true settlement objectives, allowing him to quickly frame negotiations and move the matter toward resolution. As he notes, “the secret sauce to successful mediation is trust combined with effective communication.” Even when a case does not resolve immediately, Mr. Borkowski remains engaged, continuing to work with the parties to achieve a final settlement.

Having represented both plaintiffs and defendants throughout his career, Mr. Borkowski brings a balanced and informed perspective to every matter. His ability to evaluate cases from all sides has made him a respected and frequently selected neutral, including by former adversaries who trust his judgment and approach.

Prior to joining NAM, Mr. Borkowski served for more than a decade as a Town Justice in one of New York’s busiest courts, where he presided over jury and non-jury trials and facilitated the resolution of numerous civil and commercial disputes. Earlier in his career, he served as an Assistant District Attorney, gaining significant trial experience, and later practiced in both public and private sectors handling complex litigation matters, including large-scale investigations and high-profile cases.

In 2025, for the sixth year in a row, Mr. Borkowski was named a Top Ten Neutral in the New York Law Journal “Best Of” survey. He also holds an AV Distinguished rating from Martindale-Hubbell, reflecting the highest standards of legal ability and ethics.

Mr. Borkowski is available to arbitrate and mediate cases throughout the New York Metro area.